AROUND THE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WORLD THIS WEEK- ISSUE #33

UK & EU

IMPENDING 5-YEAR WORK VISAS FOR ‘SKILLED’ REFUGEES IN THE UK AS THE COUNTRY STRUGGLES WITH WORKER SHORTAGE

The UK’s Home Office is all set to launch a 5-year visa for war refugees with the requisite skills to fill job gaps in the country. Right now, the country is struggling with a shortage of skilled workers. The new displaced talent mobility scheme will offer refuge to skilled people residing in the refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon. Refugees who have fled the conflict-ridden Iraq, Syria, and Gaza will be eligible for this scheme.

ENGLAND SCHOOLS CLOSED DOWN EARLY FOR SUMMER BREAK WITH RECORD NUMBERS FORCED TO ISOLATE

The soaring levels of COVID cases in England have led to schools closing early for summer or moving to the online mode. Thousands of students are forced to go under home isolation amid another surge. Parents are frustrated due to the current situation. Many are already taking children out of school, rather than risking infection or isolation at the end of the school term.  

SKILLS TRAINING BOOSTED ACROSS THE UK

The UK government has announced measures to boost skills, bring new opportunities, and get better-paid jobs for more people in the country. The Prime Minister highlighted the need to promote practical and vocational education through its Lifetime Skills Guarantee programme. Further, it will expand the Skills Bootcamp training programmes across the country to help adults to upskill or retrain.

NON-EU UCAS APPLICATIONS UP 14% IN THE UK, EU DROPS

New data from UCAS indicates an increase in applications in UK universities compared to last year. However, the number of international student applicants overall has declined. The number of students from the EU has come down sharply, while the number of non-EU students has increased by 14%.

FRANCE HEIS CLIMB INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS

According to Campus France, the higher education institutions of the country are climbing up international rankings. Campus France promotes higher education, international mobility, and international student services in the country. It has analysed the Shanghai and Times Higher Education rankings to come up with the indications.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA AND ITS CHINA COUNTERPART TO GET STUDENTS TO LAKE DISTRICT

The University of Cumbria has signed an agreement with China’s Guizhou Medical University to permit selected students to complete the final year of study in its Ambleside campus. This new partnership will bring a larger number of Chinese students to the Lake District. These will include students who have already finished the first three years of the 4-year Chinese outdoor sports degree.

INDIA

TRAVEL BAN HITS INDIAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ITALIAN UNIVERSITIES

As Italy bans travellers from India, students who flew in to be with their families during the second wave of the pandemic are now stranded back home. Air travel to and from Italy was suspended on April 28. Those who returned here before the ban are now stuck here, even as the Italian universities have resumed studies as usual.

CBSE ASKS SCHOOLS FOR STAFF VACCINATION DATA

The CBSE has asked the affiliated schools to provide updated data on the vaccination of their staff members. It is running an exercise called “vaccination information system of school” under which schools will have to submit the required information online by July 22. The objective is to ensure that the schools encourage the staff members to go ahead with vaccinations.  

ODISHA PLANS TO REOPEN SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS OF CLASSES 10 AND 12 FROM JULY 26

The Odisha government is all set to reopen schools from July 26, 2021. The order will apply to both government and private schools, recalling students of Classes 10th and 12th to attend school physically. The rest of the students will continue studying online for now. The state will soon issue SOPs in this regard.

8 FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES LOOKING AHEAD TO SET UP CAMPUSES IN INDIA

Eight leading international universities have shown interest in setting up their campuses in India. These include five US universities and one each from Canada, Australia, and the UK. The list also has some impressive ones, with one among the top 50 and another among the top 100 leading universities according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.

FREE AIRPODS AND MACBOOK DISCOUNTS BY APPLE FOR INDIAN STUDENTS

Apple brings the Back to School programme for students looking for discounts on Apple products or free AirPods. Buyers will have to verify themselves as students to avail the incredible offers. The programme comes to India after a month of being launched for students in the US. The offer is available only with the Apple Online Store for now.

HIKVISION INDIA JOINS HANDS WITH NATIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Hikvision India has joined hands with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for a venture that offers security technology training to the youth in India. The certification programmes include Hikvision Certified Security Professional (HCSP) and Hikvision Certified Security Associate (HCSA). The aim of the collaboration is to boost the Skill India Mission.

USA & CANADA

STAFF AND STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA WILL REQUIRE COVID VACCINATIONS FOR THE FALL TERM

All students and staff at the University of California will have to get COVID-19 vaccinations before returning to campus for the fall term. The policy extends to everyone living, learning, and working at U.C. locations. Further, anyone participating in-person in off-site U.C. programmes such as study abroad and U.C. athletics programmes will also need to adhere to the policy.

STUDY ABROAD AWARD FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA FOR INVESTIGATING WATER ACCESS AND QUALITY

The University of Alabama supports study-abroad exchange programmes throughout the Americas as part of the initiative to study the access and quality of water in Alabama and internationally. UA collaborates with Tuskegee University and the Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla, Colombia to investigate water quality, access, and cultural diversity in Alabama and Barranquilla.

SEVEN NEW COUNTRIES TO BE A PART OF THE CANADA STUDENT DIRECT STREAM

Canada has come up with the Student Direct Stream initiative to offer support for faster visa processing for international students. The initiative will now extend to seven more countries in addition to the seven already there. The new countries cover the Caribbean and Central and South America regions.

NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND TAKES VOCATIONAL OFFER ONLINE

The collaboration between tertiary provider Te Pūkenga and Education New Zealand is all set to provide an online training pilot scheme for vocational students worldwide. It is a 12-month initiative that will run on the FutureLearn platform to showcase taster courses from providers in New Zealand under the Think New brand umbrella.

If you are considering studying abroad why don’t you discuss your prospects and opportunities with experts at Lurnable’s dedicated study abroad counselling division LurnPathways?


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